After a solid series of shows over Bellator’s initial run on Spike TV, the organization ended Season 8 on a high note with an excellent lineup featuring a bout between respected veterans, two tournament finals, and a championship clash to boot. Bellator 95 unfolded in Atlantic City and was headlined by 145-pound king Pat Curran (18-4) putting his gold up for grabs against surging Russian Shahbulat Shamhalaev (12-1-1).

What started out as a striking battle ended with a grappling exchange after Curran shot in and latched on a Guillotine Choke. Though the hold didn’t draw a tap, it did result in the end of the fight after Shamhalaev went limp. The Technical Submission finish marked the second successful defense of Curran’s career.

Also on tap, Rick Hawn tested his mat-based prowess against fellow judoka Karo Parisyan, while Brett Cooper-Doug Marshall mixed it up in a middleweight final and Mike Richman-Frodo Khasbulaev collided with a title-shot on the line.

Judo never really came into play in the evening’s opener, as Hawn was able to end Parisyan’s night with a powerful right hand in the second stanza, wobbling “The Heat” before a few follow-up shots sealed the deal. Likewise, Marshall scored a knockout of Cooper, earning a crack at champ Alexander Shlemenko in the process as well as a significant payday. Khasbulaev exited his effort with a raised hand as well, outpointing Richman in a hotly contested clash.